Rangers’ Holland, Profar have similar injuries with one big difference

A week has passed since Texas Rangers left-hander Derek Holland was lost to a muscle injury in his shoulder, and so too has passed the concern that he will meet the same fate as infielder Jurickson Profar.

Holland and Profar both had tears of the subscapularis muscle. The difference, besides the left and right shoulders, is that Profar also had an existing labrum tear from 2010 that caused instability and couldn’t provide enough support as Profar stretched out his throwing program to 105 feet.

“Trust me: I have asked the same question of our doctors,” general manger Jon Daniels said. “They are confident it’s not the same as Profar.”

Profar initially suffered a small tear of the teres major and subscapularis muscles in January 2014, and the subscapularis never healed. He had surgery in February and will miss a second straight season.

Holland has no labrum issue, thus his shoulder is stable and doesn’t need a lengthy rehab or any kind of surgery.

“Every joint is stabilized in two ways: It has static restraints, like a seat belt, and it has dynamic restraints, meaning the muscles acting when a joint begins to reach its limit,” said Dr. Keith Meister, the Rangers’ team physician. “In the shoulder, the capsule in the labrum is the static restraint. ... Derek’s seat belt works. Profar’s seat belt was broken.”

Holland will be back this season after being injured in the first inning of the home opener, though he might not return until July. Right-hander Anthony Ranaudo filled the rotation vacancy Wednesday, allowing six runs in 1 2/3 innings before being optioned to Triple A Round Rock.

That spot on the 25-man roster was filled Friday, when the Rangers activated righty Tanner Scheppers (right ankle sprain) from the disabled list.

The Rangers are still considering how they will fill Holland’s void. Because of two off days next week, the Rangers could stick with a four-man rotation until April 28.

Kela comes home

Right-hander Keone Kela spent some time Friday walking on the Safeco Field playing surface, somewhere he hadn’t been since he was 14 years old.

“It’s such a different feeling from when I was in high school to now,” he said.

Kela went to high school in Seattle and attended Everett Community College north of Seattle. He was back in the area for the first time as a major leaguer. As such, he was expecting 100 friends and a few family members, including his mom, to be on hand for the Rangers’ series at Seattle.

“It means a lot,” Kela said. “I have a lot of a family friends, and a lot of people who assisted me on my growth through baseball. It’s cool to allow everyone else to see their work they put into me. It’s kind of like a gift to them now.”

Moreland scratched

Mitch Moreland was scratched from the Rangers’ lineup because of soreness in his left elbow two days after initially feeling discomfort in the on-deck circle.

Manager Jeff Banister said that Moreland was swinging a heavy bat Wednesday and started to feel soreness. It lingered into Friday, and he was removed from the lineup.

“It was sore, so we felt it was best to be conservative with it,” Banister said. “We’re going to get it checked out.”

Banister said that Moreland could be available late if needed.

This story was originally published April 17, 2015 at 8:32 PM with the headline "Rangers’ Holland, Profar have similar injuries with one big difference."